I think the Wilmot loan is a good chance for him but I am still having trouble believing that a 19 year old, inexperienced at the top level, can get into the starting line-up of a Seria A side.
And when they are in a relegation battle ... Their defence isn't too bad apparently - up front is the issue .
"Cucho Hernendez was absolutely fabulous tonight". Commentator on Huesca's 4-0 win over Real Valladolid. Cucho is 19 and is doing really well at the side at the bottom of La Liga. We may have a star on our hands provided he isn't persuaded to join one of the Spanish big boys. I watched some of the game and he looks like a skillful version of Success - big, strong and with a delicate touch. I think that he is eligible to play in the UK at present because I think that he has got a Spanish passport.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47109319 Foster in team of the week! What a season Ben Foster is having. The 35-year-old has made my team of the week on numerous occasions and I find myself compelled to pick him yet again after a glorious display against Brighton. Jurgen Locadia must be glad to see the back of him. Had it not been for Foster, the Dutch striker might have had a hat-trick. The best save of the match was with his feet. It's heartbreaking that the former England keeper has made himself unavailable for international duty - he's in the best form of his career. Did you know? Since the start of the 2016-17 season, only Lukasz Fabianski (346) and Jordan Pickford (326) have made more saves in the Premier League than Ben Foster (294).
Loads of info here: Nicholas Smith Conversation starter · 6 February at 21:55 Just been to the ‘At Your Place’ event at the Sir John Balcombe in Marylebone. Here is a ‘brief’ summary of the key points: • Ben Wilmot was sent out on loan for his development and to increase his game time. He is seen as a hot prospect and the deal works for us, him and Udinese • The current plans for stadium expansion is to increase the capacity to 25,000. This would lead to extensions to both the Elton John and Graham Taylor stands respectively. • The 5 year vision for the club is commercial and stadium expansion and to be the best we can both on and off the pitch. The stadium expansion is a 3 year plan. There should be no limit on our ambition and currently we are nowhere near our full potential • We did try and sign a centre back in January but were unsuccessful. We will not sign players for the sake of it • Our catering and the length of queues at the kiosk was a criticism from one of our fans. Scott disagreed saying it is excellent and there is not much you can do when it comes to queuing • There has been a positive response to our kit this season and there will be a stripe of some sort on next years kit • The ambition is to play in Europe whilst also recognising this would lead to extra pressure for both the players and our scouts • The reason for the team spirit is the hard work put in during pre-season where there were lots of tough days and the group bonded as a result • Deulofeu was never going to Milan- Just media speculation • Lukebakio and Cucho have the potential to be involved with the first team next season due to their impressive loan spells this season • We will never go crazy by spending £30 to £40 million on a player- Always has to be the right price • The club has no debt- It is the holding club which has it • Troy admitted that no-one likes going to Bournemouth. Favourite away grounds this season have been Everton, West Ham and Woking • Asked about his proudest achievement in his tenure, Scott said it was the way Vicarage Road looks now and that this will be his legacy as it will be there forever. He is also proud of keeping the DNA of the club • There was a lot of praise for Ben Foster from Troy. He also said we should cut Deulofeu some slack for missing chances- He is a big fish in a small pond and he isn’t being played in his natural position • Troy has always preferred to have a strike partner. He said technically that Vydra was a better player whereas Ighalo was the best finisher he has played with • We would take a place in the Europa League over a place in the FA Cup final • There would be no increase in season and match tickets if we were to get in to the Europa League • Javi is a good fit for the club as he is humble, cares a lot about the club and genuinely wants to be there • There are no plans to move the family stand away from the away fans as the club does not want to displace existing ST holders in other parts of the ground • Troy will be here for the rest of his contract at least and hopefully a bit longer after that as well (He asked Scott to open contract negotiations!) •Scott explained that pre-season tours abroad are played behind closed doors as it is all about preparation and concentration. We have rejected several commercial offers to play in tours abroad as this is not what the club is about • The mentality of the players is to win every game (Troy was furious when asked whether we will go on our usual end of season slump to avoid getting in to the Europa League) • There is no intention to loan out Chalobah- Lots of potential and expected to be in and around the squad for the rest of the season • The future of the Pozzo Group depends on Brexit with regards to foreign player limits etc • Troy will always speak his mind regardless of the fine he just received • Players not in the first eleven stay match fit due to the intensity and dedication of their training and wanting to get in the team • No strong desire to change the badge- It is up to the fans. Communication about this will be going out in the next couple of months • Season ticket prices will be going up. Still a competitive price and appropriate for the product we are receiving • International expansion is vital for the club- Increases awareness and finances • Fillipo said that he doesn’t like the Under 23’s system. Players should either be in the first team at that stage or should go out on loan so they can prove themselves against men • Troy said to go easy on Silva and Richarlison on Saturday as 20,000 people booing will give them an ‘Up yours’ mentality • There will be 2 more At Your Place events before the end of the season All in all a very enjoyable evening and nice for the club to be so honest to us fans- COYH! Interested to hear about ground capacity...... and debunking some of the paper talk on player moves etc etc
Bit of a mis-leading headline from Talksport to advertise their interview with GD: He says the players are better in La Liga but in other aspects says the Premier league is better. https://talksport.com/football/490531/laliga-premier-league-watford-gerard-deulofeu-talksport/
This could be a thread of its own. I guess these "At your place" events are the only time the club really communicate with the fans. Cheers Yorkie, an interesting read.
Apparently they thought it was going to be in some private room at the pub but in fact ended up being hosted in the middle of random people drinking! Just as well this hasn't been leaked to the national media etc... I presume the bit about the Pozzo future just means they might have to change the way they run after Brexit rather than having to sell up! BTW We can get in the Europa league by winning the FA Cup and avoid having to play qualifying games like Burnley did!
Holebas is banned There was just one sour note for Watford against Everton. Defender Jose Holebas picked up a booking against the Toffees. That was the tenth time Holebas has been booked this season, which means the Watford assist-maker will now be banned. Good news for QPR & Cardiff Holebas has now picked up a two match ban for Watford. That means he’ll miss upcoming matches against QPR in the FA Cup and against Cardiff in the Premier League. Holebas will be in line to return to action in the Premier League on February 27 against Liverpool.
All very informative stuff. Rather sad to see how the FA Cup is devalued these days - maybe the fans should be asked on this one - would they rather have a trip to Wembley for a major final, or endless midweek trips to group matches in places like Donetsk ?
He was a model of restraint at Brighton last week... even went back to the referee at first time of asking to avoid a certain YC. I think he got himself deliberately cautioned to ensure his availability for Liverpool. I think our other full backs will step up to the plate against QPR and Cardiff.
